California Unemployment
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Can't reach California Unemployment? Claimyr calls for you, so you don't have to wait on hold.
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- Redial until on hold
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Ask the community...
- DO post questions about your issues.
- DO answer questions and support each other.
- DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
- DO NOT post call problems here - there is a support tab at the top for that :)
Can I get EDD benefits for reduced work hours? Desperate with sick mother at home
Hi everyone, my situation just got really complicated. My manager called me yesterday saying they're cutting my hours from 38 to only 22 hours weekly starting next week. I'm freaking out because I'm the only income right now since my mom was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer and can't work anymore. Can I apply for partial unemployment with EDD even though I'm still employed? Has anyone successfully filed a claim for reduced hours? I've never dealt with EDD before and have no idea how to answer some of the application questions (like why my hours were reduced or if I'm still "able to work"). Any advice on how to fill this out correctly? I'm terrified of making mistakes that might get my claim denied when we desperately need the money for mom's medications.
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EDD benefits with international income - no W2, just wire transfers from UK touring company
I'm in a complicated situation with my unemployment claim. I was working for a music tour before being laid off. The touring company is based in London, and they never paid me through W-2s - just wire transfers directly to my bank account. I was responsible for handling all my taxes during tax season as an independent contractor. Now I'm trying to file for unemployment in California and I'm totally confused about how to report this income. When I try to complete my application online, there's no option that seems to fit my situation. Has anyone dealt with international income and EDD claims? Do I need to call them directly? I'm worried they'll deny my claim since I don't have traditional employment documentation.
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One more thing to be aware of - if EDD determines you were misclassified, they might go after the touring company for unpaid unemployment insurance contributions. This could potentially cause issues if you want to work with them again in the future. Just something to consider before proceeding.
That's a really good point I hadn't considered. The industry is pretty small and I don't want to burn bridges. I'll have to think about whether pursuing this is worth the potential professional fallout.
EDD approved one week but funds not showing on my BofA card - new card coming?
So confused right now. After filing my new claim last week, I finally got through to EDD yesterday (after like 20 attempts calling). The rep said they fixed something and switched one of my weeks from pending to paid status, but the other week is still waiting for some reason. My issue now is I don't see any money on my Bank of America EDD card app yet. My old card doesn't expire until May, but I'm worried they might be sending me a new one since this is technically a new claim? Does anyone know if I should be expecting a new card, or will the funds just show up on my existing card in a day or two? The EDD website shows the payment as issued but I'm getting anxious because rent is coming up fast.
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Just wanted to share my experience - when I filed a new claim after my benefit year ended in January, they did NOT send me a new card. The funds were loaded onto my existing Bank of America EDD card. However, I did receive a letter in the mail about a week after my first payment was processed confirming that my existing card would be used. So you might get similar confirmation soon.
Thank you! This is really helpful. I'll watch for a letter like that. At least I know the money from the first week is safely on my card now.
EDD Disability phone number changed? Can't reach SDI customer service
Has anyone called EDD Disability (SDI) recently? I've been trying to reach them about my claim but the number I had (1-800-480-3287) just gives me an automated message and hangs up. I tried calling at different times (morning, afternoon) but can't get to a real person. Do they have a different number now for disability questions? I need to talk to someone asap as my payments stopped and I don't see any notices on my account explaining why. Any help appreciated!
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I had the same issue with my SDI claim last month! My payments just stopped with no explanation. When I finally reached someone, they told me my claim was flagged for an "eligibility interview" but they never contacted me about it. The representative told me they're severely understaffed and behind on processing continued claims. Here's what worked for me: 1. Call at exactly 8:00:00 am (literally the second they open) 2. If that fails, try the alternate approach of calling at 4:30pm (sometimes people have better luck late in the day) 3. Select option 2 (claim specific questions) then option 3 (payment issues) 4. Have your claim number, last 4 of SSN, and doctor info ready It took me 6 attempts but I finally got through and they resolved my issue that same day. Good luck!
Did they backpay you for the weeks they didn't pay while you were waiting to reach them? Or did they just fix it going forward?
One other thing to check - did you complete your DE 2525XX Continued Claim Certification form? SDI requires you to complete this form every two weeks just like regular unemployment, but many people don't realize this and their payments stop. The form might have been mailed to you rather than appearing online. If you didn't receive it, that could be why your payments stopped. When you reach a representative, ask them to resend the form or help you complete it over the phone.
Wait, I thought my doctor submitting the continued certification was enough? I wasn't aware I needed to complete a separate form myself every two weeks. That could definitely be the issue. Is this something I can access and submit through the SDI Online portal?
There are actually two different forms - one that your doctor completes (the medical certification) and one that YOU need to complete (the continued claim form). Many people miss this. For some claims you can complete these online, but for others they still use the paper system. Log into your SDI Online account and check under "Forms" to see if there's a continued claim certification waiting for you. If not, you'll need to ask the EDD representative to send you one when you reach them, or they can process it over the phone in some cases.
EDD switching banks for payments - got weird email notification
So I just got this strange notification from EDD about 'changing financial institutions' and thought it was a scam at first! Got totally freaked out because it didn't look like their usual emails. Turns out EDD is actually switching from Bank of America to another bank for their debit card/payment system. Has anyone else gotten this notification? I couldn't find anything on their website about it until I dug deeper. Is this legit? What do we need to do to make sure our payments don't get interrupted during this switch?
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wait so do we have to do anything or just wait for the new card??
Mostly just wait for the new card, but make sure your mailing address is current in your UI Online account. If you currently use direct deposit instead of the card, you'll need to set that up again with the new system when the transition happens for your claim.
Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! This community is amazing. I feel much better now knowing it's legitimate. I'll update my address in UI Online right away since I'm moving soon. Fingers crossed the new system works better than the old one!
Glad we could help! Just make sure to watch your mail carefully for the new card - they often come in plain envelopes that can look like junk mail. The transition is supposed to be complete by June 2025, but different claimants will transition at different times depending on their claim status.
Ethan Brown
oh i forgot to say make sure u certify every 2 weeks!!!!! if u miss certifying they dont pay u and its a hassle to get backpay
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Yuki Yamamoto
Just wanted to add - when you're caring for a sick family member while working reduced hours, you might also want to look into State Disability Insurance (SDI) and Paid Family Leave (PFL) as additional options. These are separate from unemployment but can provide benefits in certain caregiving situations. The EDD manages these programs too. Also, be prepared that there might be a phone interview to verify your eligibility. Make sure you answer when they call (typically shows as "St of CA EDD" or an unknown number).
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CosmicCrusader
AuthorThank you so much, everyone! I just submitted my application for partial unemployment. I answered the questions exactly as suggested here. Really appreciate all the guidance - this community is amazing.
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